Use daily tests rather than hourly tests - At small scale, hourly testing isn't effective since the view differences (like 12 vs 10 views) aren't statistically significant enough to make good decisions.
Delay testing start time - Wait at least 2-3 days after uploading before starting tests, as this gives time for the video to establish a baseline viewing pattern.
Use consecutive testing instead of classic A/B testing - This means:
Show thumbnail A for several consecutive days, then thumbnail B for several consecutive days
Don't alternate between thumbnails daily
This gives YouTube's algorithm more time to recognize if a thumbnail/title combination is performing well
Run longer test periods:
Minimum 4 days per thumbnail variation
For channels getting only a few hundred views, extend to 8 days per variation
Consider running 16-day total test periods (8 days for each variation)
Focus on long-term growth - The goal isn't to get a few extra views immediately, but rather to:
Get the video suggested to new audiences
Appear in browse features
Show up in people's feeds
Break out beyond your usual audience
While these longer testing periods might not provide instant gratification, they're more likely to help smaller channels identify thumbnails and titles that could help their videos gain broader exposure and potentially go viral.